DLAEnergyFEPAA

Candy Cross serves as a key procurement professional within the Defense Logistics Agency’s Energy component, responsible for managing strategic acquisitions of petroleum-based fuels and related energy infrastructure critical to sustaining global military operations. Leveraging the agency’s SPE605 contracting authority, Cross oversees the full lifecycle of energy supply contracts, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical readiness requirements. Their portfolio is exclusively focused on NAICS 324110—Petroleum Refineries—reflecting deep specialization in the procurement of refined fuels, bulk fuel delivery systems, and associated logistics services that support DoD’s operational energy resilience. This role demands rigorous oversight of complex supply chains and coordination with international and domestic energy providers to maintain uninterrupted fuel flow across all service branches. Cross maintains a primary contracting relationship with Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) and United Capital Investments Group, two high-volume vendors with established capacity to deliver large-scale, mission-essential fuel supplies under long-term indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and requirements contracts. These partnerships are characterized by sustained performance, strict adherence to defense-grade quality standards, and seamless integration into global distribution networks. While these two entities dominate the contracting landscape, Cross also engages a broader base of qualified suppliers to ensure competitive readiness and supply chain redundancy. Set-aside preferences indicate a strong but balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting, with 26.1% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for small businesses in the energy sector. No other socioeconomic set-asides—such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB—are prominently utilized, suggesting a focus on broad-based small business eligibility rather than targeted programs. This pattern aligns with DLA Energy’s operational imperative to prioritize scale, reliability, and continuity over socioeconomic quotas. The procurement activity is singularly focused on petroleum refining and fuel distribution services, requiring technical expertise in fuel specifications, storage infrastructure, and military-grade fuel logistics. Cross’s domain knowledge encompasses ASTM standards, Defense Fuel Support Point operations, and the unique demands of expeditionary fueling environments, making them a pivotal figure in securing the energy lifeline for U.S. armed forces worldwide.